Information processing apparatus and information output controlling method

ABSTRACT

The invention provides an information processing apparatus wherein playback of display data and playback of audio data relating to the display data are changed over in an associated relationship with each other in response to an open or closed state of a lid with respect to a housing. The information processing apparatus includes a portable housing having an image display section provided thereon, a lid mounted for opening and closing motion on the housing for covering the display section, a lid opening/closing detection section for detecting opening or closing of the lid with respect to the housing, a display control section for displaying display data on the image display section, an audio playback section for playing back audio data relating to the display data, and a control section for controlling the audio playback section so as to play back, when opening or closing of the lid is detected by the opening/closing detection section, the audio data relating to the display data displayed when the opening or closing of the lid is detected by the lid opening/closing detection section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/885,224filed Jun. 20, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,897,850, the discloser of whichis hereby incorporated by reference herein, and claims priority fromJapanese Application Nos. 2000-187081 filed on Jun. 22, 2000 and2001-161713 filed May 30, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an information processing apparatus and aninformation output controlling method wherein display data and audiodata relating to the display data are switchably played back in anassociated relationship from each other in response to opening/closingof a lid with respect to a housing.

If someone wants to read a book of a novel or the like, for example, inan electric train, the book will be carried in a bag or the like andopened in an electric train with one hand while the pages are turnedwith the other hand. However, if the electric train is crowded, then theoperation of turning the pages may not be performed.

Thus, an information processing apparatus has been developed wherein thepages can be displayed successively without an operation for turning thepages. A structure of a conventional information processing apparatus ofthe type mentioned is shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. Referring to FIGS.1A to 1C, the conventional information processing apparatus 1 shownincludes a pair of bodies 2 a and 2 b coupled for pivotal motionrelative to each other by a hinge 3 so that they can be pivotally openedand closed relative to each other. A pair of magnets not shown areprovided at locations of the bodies 2 a and 2 b remote from the hinge 3so that the closed state of the information processing apparatus 1 maybe kept by a magnetic force acting-between the magnets. A pair ofdisplay sections 4 a and 4 b are provided at opposing faces of thebodies 2 a and 2 b, respectively.

When the information processing apparatus 1 is open as seen in FIG. 1C,characters can be displayed on the display sections 4 a and 4 b in asimilar manner as in a case wherein a book is open, and if a switch notshown is operated, then new pages can be successively displayed on thedisplay sections 4 a and 4 b in a similar manner as in a case whereinthe pages are turned.

However, the conventional information processing apparatus 1 isdisadvantageous in that, if mere reading of characters thereon iscontinued for a long time, then this strains the eyes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an informationprocessing apparatus and an information output controlling methodwherein reproduction of display data and reproduction of audio datarelating to the display data are changed over in an associatedrelationship with each other in response to an open or closed state of alid with respect to a housing.

In order to attain the object described above, according to an aspect ofthe present invention, there is provided an information processingapparatus, including a portable housing having an image display sectionprovided thereon, a lid mounted for opening and closing motion on thehousing for covering the display section, opening/closing detectionmeans for detecting opening or closing of the lid with respect to thehousing, display control means for displaying display data on the imagedisplay section, audio reproducing means for reproducing audio datarelating to the display data, and control means for controlling theaudio reproducing means so as to reproduce, when opening or closing ofthe lid is detected by the opening/closing detection means, the audiodata relating to the display data displayed when the opening or closingof the lid is detected by the opening/closing detection means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan information processing apparatus, including a portable housing havingan image display section provided thereon, a lid mounted for opening andclosing motion on the housing for covering the display section, displaydata storage means for storing display data, audio data storage meansfor storing audio data, opening/closing detection means for detectingopening or closing of the lid with respect to the housing, displaycontrol means for displaying the display data from the display datastorage means on the image display section, audio reproducing means forreproducing the audio data from the audio storage means, and controlmeans for controlling the display data reproducing means so that thereproduction of the display data reproducing means is stopped whenclosing of the lid with respect to the housing is detected by theopening/closing detection means while the display control means displaysthe display data on the image display section and controlling the audioreproducing means so that the audio data relating to the display datadisplayed by the display control means when closing of the lid isdetected are reproduced from the audio storage means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a controlling method of controlling outputting, from aninformation processing apparatus which includes a portable housinghaving an image display section provided thereon and a lid mounted foropening and closing motion on the housing for covering the displaysection, display data to be displayed on the image display section andaudio data relating to the display data, including the steps ofsuccessively displaying the display data on the image display section inresponse to an operation of a user, detecting that the lid for thehousing is operated while the display data are displayed, searching forthe audio data relating to the display data displayed on the imagedisplay section when it is detected that the lid is operated, andsuccessively reproducing the audio data from the searched out audiodata.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description and theappended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich like parts-or elements denoted by like reference symbols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a top plan view and a front elevational view,respectively, of a conventional information processing apparatus in aclosed state, and FIG. 1C is a schematic view of the conventionalinformation processing apparatus in an open state;

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are a top plan view, a front elevational view, abottom plan view and a left-hand side elevational view, respectively, ofan information processing apparatus to which the present invention isapplied;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a feed switch of theinformation processing apparatus of FIGS. 2A to 2D;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are bottom plan views particularly showing the feedswitch of the information processing apparatus of FIGS. 2A to 2D;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the feed switch of FIG. 3 directed tothe outside of the information processing apparatus of FIGS. 2A to 2D;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the feed switch of FIG. 5 moreparticularly;

FIG. 7 is a similar view but showing another form of the feed switch ofthe information processing apparatus of FIGS. 2A to 2D;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of electricconfiguration of the information processing apparatus of FIGS. 2A to 2D;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flow charts illustrating operation of the informationprocessing apparatus of FIGS. 2A to 2D;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrammatic views illustrating a data arrangementmap of a contents file used in the information processing apparatus ofFIGS. 2A to 2D;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the information processingapparatus of FIGS. 2A to 2D in a closed state;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the information processingapparatus of FIGS. 2A to 2D in an open state;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the information processingapparatus of FIGS. 2A to 2D in a charging state;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing another information processingapparatus to which the present invention is applied; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing part of the information processingapparatus of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2A to 2D, there is shown an information processingapparatus to which the present invention is applied. The informationprocessing apparatus shown is generally denoted at 1 and includes a pairof bodies 2 a and 2 b each having an inverted trapezoidal shape in frontelevation as seen in FIG. 2B. A pair of display sections 4 a and 4 beach serving as a display section are provided on opposing faces of thebodies 2 a and 2 b, respectively. The bodies 2 a and 2 b are connectedfor pivotal motion relative to each other by a pair of hinges 3 a and 3b. The hinges 3 a and 3 b are provided separately from each other atupper and lower ends of the bodies 2 a and 2 b on the opposite sides ofthe display sections 4 a and 4 b. Consequently, no hinge is positionedbetween the display sections 4 a and 4 b so that the pair of displaysections 4 a and 4 b may look as if they were contiguous to each other.Since no hinge is present between the display sections 4 a and 4 b,adjacent ends of the display sections 4 a and 4 b oppose each otherdirectly such that the display sections 4 a and 4 b look like a singledisplay unit.

The information processing apparatus 1 includes an audio outputtingsection 51 (refer to FIG. 8) for outputting an audio signalcorresponding to characters displayed on the display sections 4 a and 4b. Software for both of text data and audio data is used as software fora book selected, and the data are each divided into a plurality of blockdata and the blocks of mutually relating contents are linked to eachother.

A pair of magnets not shown for keeping the information processingapparatus 1 in a closed state are provided on the faces of the bodies 2a and 2 b on which the display sections 4 a and 4 b are provided.Further, the information processing apparatus 1 includes a lidopening/closing detection section 54 shown in FIG. 8 which may includean on-off switch or the like for detecting that the informationprocessing apparatus 1 is open or closed.

If the bodies 2 a and 2 b are pivotally opened, then the lidopening/closing detection section 54 detects this based on a signalinputted from the on-off switch or the like and enables the displaysections 4 a and 4 b. Meanwhile, the audio outputting section 51 isenabled either when the lid opening/closing detection section 54 detectsthat the information processing apparatus 1 is closed from its openstate or when the closed state is detected and an output switch 19(refer to FIGS. 6 or 7) is switched on, depending upon setting betweenthe two requirements.

In order to allow the information processing apparatus 1 to read a bookaloud in response to an operation of the output switch 19 while theinformation processing apparatus 1 remains in a closed state, the titleof the book must be displayed on the outer side of the informationprocessing apparatus 1. To this end, a sub display section 17 isprovided on an outer face of the body 2 b as seen in FIG. 12.

A feed switch 6 of the seesaw type integrated with a hinge is providedas an operation section for operating the screens displayed on thedisplay sections 4 a and 4 b to turn or feed the pages forwardly orbackwardly. In particular, referring to FIG. 3, the feed switch 6 issupported for turning motion on a shaft 7 for the hinge 3 b. Moreparticularly, a bearing 8 in the form of a ring is securely mounted at alower end of the body 2 a, and the shaft 7 extends between the bearing 8and the hinge 3 b. A pair of recesses 9 a and 9 b are formed in thebodies 2 a and 2 b by cutting away portions of the bodies 2 a and 2 baround the shaft 7, respectively. As can be seen from FIGS. 4A and 4B,the recesses 9 a and 9 b extend from the display faces to end faces ofthe bodies 2 a and 2 b, respectively. The recesses 9 a and 9 b are cutaway such that they have a radial dimension which increases downwardlyof the information processing apparatus 1 along an axial direction ofthe shaft 7 but have an equal dimension in a circumferential directionalong the axial direction of the shaft 7. The feed switch 6 isaccommodated in the recesses 9 a and 9 b and supported for turningmotion on the shaft 7. The feed switch 6 can be turned by 180 degrees inthe recesses 9 a and 9 b. If the feed switch 6 is turned by 180 degreesin a state of FIG. 4A wherein the information processing apparatus 1 isclosed, then the feed switch 6 is exposed to the outside as seen inFIGS. 4B and 5. Consequently, the feed switch 6 can be operated in thestate wherein the information processing apparatus 1 is closed.

The feed switch 6 has such a surface as shown in FIG. 6. Referring toFIG. 6, the feed switch 6 has a seesaw section 10 having a feedingportion 10 a and a returning portion 10 b. Each time the feeding portion10 a is depressed, the numbers of the pages displayed on the displaysections 4 a and 4 b are incremented, but each time the returningportion 10 b is depressed, the numbers of the pages displayed on thedisplay sections 4 a and 4 b are decremented.

The seesaw section 10 has a starting instruction operation element 10 cwhich serves as a start/stop button for performing “starting of readingaloud” and “stopping of reading aloud”.

Since the feed switch 6 is supported for turning motion, the feed switch6 and the bodies 2 a and 2 b have such a structure that a flexiblewiring line is threaded in the inside of the hinge 3 b or the hinge 3 bitself has a structure like a rotary switch.

The feed switch 6 may otherwise be of such an operation dial type asshown in FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 7, the feed switch 6 includes anoperation dial 11 mounted for turning motion thereon. If the operationdial 11 is turned leftwardly in FIG. 7, then the numbers of the pagesdisplayed are incremented, but if the operation dial 11 is turnedrightwardly in FIG. 7, then the numbers of the pages displayed aredecremented. However, if the operation dial 11 is depressed entirely,then it acts similarly to the starting instruction operation element 10c of FIG. 6.

The feed switch 6 may alternatively be of the roller type or the like.

The information processing apparatus 1 further has such an electricconfiguration as shown in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 8, the informationprocessing apparatus 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 41, aread only memory (ROM) 42 and a random access memory (RAM) 43 builttherein.

A nonvolatile memory 50 stores various preset values and such data andso forth that must be kept stored even when power supply to theinformation processing apparatus 1 is switched off during operation. Thenonvolatile memory 50 may be formed from, for example, a flash memory ora RAM which is backed up by a battery.

A contents storage 55 is a storage medium for holding contents in theinformation processing apparatus 1 so that the contents can be playedback even if a removable memory 46 is not loaded in a removable memoryinterface or slot 12. The contents storage 55 may be formed from, forexample, a nonvolatile memory, a magnetic disk represented by a harddisk, a magneto-optical disk or the like.

The audio outputting section 51 outputs audio data relating to contentsdisplayed in the form of an image, in this instance, particularly readaloud audio data of a book or the like, to a speaker 53 or a headphoneconnected to a headphone output terminal 18. If it is detected by aheadphone detection section 52 that a headphone is connected to theheadphone output terminal 18, then the audio outputting section 51 iscontrolled by an input/output interface 47 so that a playback audiosignal may not be outputted to the speaker 53. Further, when contentsare set in advance so that they are inhibited from being outputted tothe speaker 53 or when it is set by the user that any contents areinhibited from being outputted to the speaker 53, the audio outputtingsection 51 is controlled by the input/output interface 47 so that audioplayback from the speaker 53 is inhibited irrespective of a result ofthe detection of the headphone detection section 52. It is to be notedthat the audio outputting section 51 may be controlled otherwise throughthe input/output interface 47 by the CPU 41.

A liquid crystal display element 45 represents the display sections 4 aand 4 b and the sub display section 17 described hereinabove, and theremovable memory slot 12 (refer to FIG. 2A) for receiving a removablememory 46 as a recording medium in which contents software fordisplaying characters on the display sections 4 a and 4 b and the subdisplay section 17 is stored is provided on the upper face of the body 2b. The removable memory 46 may be, for example, a memory stick or smartmedia which is a kind of flash memory card, an SD card, a compact flashcard, a PC card memory (all trademarks) or the like. Further, theremovable memory 46 may be a storage medium which includes a disk mediumor the like of a small size and has a profile substantially same asthose of the memories listed above. In order to download or receivecontents software not from the removable memory 46 but from a personalcomputer or the like, a connection terminal 13 serving as acommunication section 48 of FIG. 8 is provided on the bottom face of thebody 2 b (refer to FIG. 2C). Contents received from the removable memory46 loaded in the removable memory interface 12 and/or downloaded from anexternal apparatus through the communication section 48 are stored intothe contents storage 55 and used later. Contents downloaded from anexternal apparatus through the communication section 48 may otherwise bestored into the removable memory 46 loaded in the removable memoryinterface 12 and used later. A battery 58 is built in the body 2 a or 2b, and the connection terminal 13 serves also as a connection terminalfor charging the battery 18. A function switch 14 (refer to FIG. 2A)serving as an inputting section 49 of FIG. 8 for setting the font, sizeand so forth of characters to be displayed on the display sections 4 aand 4 b is provided on the top face of the body 2 a. The function switch14 is of the seesaw type and can vary the settings by depressing a leftor right portion of the function switch 14. A power switch 15 isprovided on a side face of the body 2 b as shown in FIG. 2D, and theheadphone output terminal 18 is provided on the bottom face of the body2 a as shown in FIG. 2C. Further, the operation elements 10 a, 10 b and10 c and the output switch 19 shown in FIG. 6 are provided as theinputting section 49.

The internal battery 58 and an external power supply connection terminal57 are connected to a power control 56 so that stabilized power issupplied to the internal elements of the information processingapparatus 1. Where a predetermined voltage and current are supplied fromthe external power supply connection terminal 57, the power control 56supplies, when a power supply switch of the information processingapparatus 1 is on, stabilized power to the internal elements of theinformation processing apparatus 1 and charges the internal battery 58with the power supply. On the other hand, when predetermined power issupplied through the external power supply connection terminal 57 butthe power supply switch of the information processing apparatus 1 isoff, the power control 56 controls so that the internal battery 58 ischarged. However, charging of the power control 56 is performed onlywhile the internal battery 58 has a charged amount with which chargingis required. When the predetermined power is not supplied to theexternal power supply connection terminal 57, if the power supply switchof the information processing apparatus 1 is on, then the power control56 produces predetermined power required by the individual elements ofthe information processing apparatus 1 from the internal battery 58 andsupplies the power to the elements. Even if the power supply switch ofthe information processing apparatus 1 is off, when the remaining chargeamount of the internal battery 58 is higher than a predetermined level,the power control 56 supplies power, with which the block of the CPU 41can operate, to the CPU 41. This is because, even when the power supplyto the information processing apparatus 1 is off, the CPU 41 mustperform supervision to switch on the power supply of the informationprocessing apparatus 1 when a user operates the power supply switch.Further, the power control 56 performs starting and stopping of supplyof power to the information processing apparatus 1 in accordance with apower supply on/off signal from the CPU 41.

Now, operation of the information processing apparatus 1 described aboveis described with reference to flow charts of FIGS. 9 and 10 anddiagrams of a data arrangement map in a contents file of FIGS. 11A and11B. It is to be noted that numbers at lower portions of FIG. 9 andnumbers at upper portions of FIG. 10 indicate that the same numbers areconnected to each other.

First, the data arrangement map of the contents file of FIGS. 11A and11B is described. Referring first to FIG. 11A, the contents fileillustrated includes a file attribute storage area 61, an address linktable address 62, a text block 63, an audio block 64, and an addresslink table 65.

The text block 63 stores text data divided in blocks for eachpredetermined recording capacity unit. The audio block 64 stores audiodata in blocks which are associated with the text data. The relationshipbetween the text data and the audio data is provided as link informationin the address link table 65. Further, the address link table address 62stores index data which indicates at which portion of the contents filethe address link table 65 is stored. The file attribute storage area 61stores data which define attributes of the entire contents file.

The text data of the text block 63 are divided in sub blocks of, forexample, 2 kbytes and thus stored as text data 1, text data 2, . . . ,and text data n. The unit of the division is not necessarily limited to2 kbytes but the text data may be divided as variable length data suchas a chapter or a paragraph of writing.

The audio data stored in the audio block 64 are stored in blocks asaudio data 1, audio data 2, . . . , and audio data n which areassociated with the text data 1, 2, . . . , and n, respectively, andare, for example, voice data when text data are read aloud. The sounddata may be, for example, a linear PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) audiosignal or a compression audio file of the ADPCM (Adaptive DifferentialPulse Code Modulation), the ATRAC (Advanced TRansform Acoustic Coding)which is a registered trademark of the assignee of the present inventionor the MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer 3).

The address link table 65 stores link information indicative of arelationship in which the text data and the audio data are linked toeach other. For example, in the first data ADRt1:ADRa1 of address linkinformation of the address link table 65, the top address of a sub blockin which the text data 1 are recorded and the top address of another subblock in which the audio data 1 are recorded are recorded in apredetermined format. Accessing to the address link table 65 makes itpossible to search for a relationship between text data and audio datafrom any of the text data and the audio data. In order to allow such asearch, the address link table address 62 is provided to detect theaddress link table 65 from the contents file. In the example illustratedin FIG. 11A, the address link table address 62 stores the address&H0FFFFABAB, and the address link table 65 is stored in addressbeginning with the address &H0FFFFABAB of the contents file.

The file attribute storage area 61 stores speaker output permissioninformation SP as seen in FIG. 11B, a text block address indicative ofthe top address of the text block 63 in which text data are stored, anaudio block address indicative of the top address of the audio block 64in which audio data are stored, and other necessary information. The topaddress of each of the text data 1 to n can be determined by tracing thetext data based on the text block address. Further, the top address ofeach of the audio data 1 to n can be determined by tracing the audiodata based on the audio block address.

When the information processing apparatus 1 is to be used, while it isin a closed state as seen in FIG. 12, a memory stick as the removablememory 46 may be inserted into the removable memory interface 12 calledMS slot. Then, the power switch 15 will be switched on. Consequently, aroutine RT1 begins to operate, and in step SP1, initialization of theRAM 43 and various initial settings are performed. If it is intended tochange the initial settings, then the display of an item to be set isreversed using the function switch 14 after the set contents aredisplayed. Thereafter, the information processing apparatus 1 will beopened as seen in FIG. 13. Thereupon, an on-state of the on-off switchnot shown is detected in step SP2 which is a detection processing step.Then in step SP3, an initial screen is displayed on each of the displaysections 4 a and 4 b, and the titles of books are displayed in a list onthe initial screen. Thus, the user will operate the function switch 14to select the title of the book which the user wants to read in stepSP4. Consequently, contents which the user wants to play back areselected.

Then in step SP5, it is detected whether or not a page read last isrecorded depending upon the presence or absence of a resume flag in thenonvolatile memory 50. If the resume flag is not detected in thenonvolatile memory 50, then the top text block address is loaded in stepSP6, and the text block address is loaded from the nonvolatile memory.50 provided as a resume RAM in step SP7, whereafter the text block dataof the top page or the page read last are loaded in step SP8. It is tobe noted that, as the resume RAM, a region of the RAM 43 of FIG. 8 whichis backed up by a battery or the like may be used. Alternatively, apredetermined region of the removable memory 46 may be used, or else thecontents storage 55 may be used. The text loaded from the contentsstorage 55 based on the text block address loaded from the nonvolatilememory 50 is displayed on the display sections 4 a and 4 b serving as amain display section in step SP9.

If the displayed text is read fully, then the user will depress thefeeding portion 10 a of the feed switch 6 once. In this instance, forexample, if the text is read while the user carries the informationprocessing apparatus 1 on the palm of the left hand, then since thethumb of the left hand holds a portion of the body 2 b in the proximityof the feed switch 6, the feed switch 6 can be depressed readily bydisplacing the position of the thumb. In other words, the pages can beturned while the information processing apparatus 1 is carried on theleft hand without using the right hand, and this makes it possible forthe user to read a book in such a situation that the user is in a verycrowded electric train and cannot move an inch. When the feeding portion10 a is depressed, the next pages are displayed on the display sections4 a and 4 b, and reading of the book can be proceeded successively byrepeating the operation described above. In addition, the page can bereturned to the previous page by depressing the returning portion 10 b.

If it is detected in step SP10 that the bodies 2 a and 2 b of theinformation processing apparatus 1 are not closed but remain open, thenvarious settings are performed in step SP12, whereafter the processingadvances to step SP8. Thus, the processing in steps SP8 to SP12 isrepeated in accordance with a request of the user to repeat displayingof the pages requested by the user.

Then, if the user is tired in reading and closes the informationprocessing apparatus 1, then it is detected in step SP10 of thedetection processing step that the information processing apparatus 1 isclosed if it is detected in step SP10 that the information processingapparatus 1 is closed, then in step SP14 of a starting instructionprocessing step, predetermined mode setting data is read out from thenonvolatile memory 50 to discriminate whether or not the informationprocessing apparatus 1 is set in a read mode. If it is discriminatedthat the information processing apparatus 1 is set in the read mode,then a text block address corresponding to the text displayedimmediately before the information processing apparatus 1 is closed isconfirmed in step SP15. Further in step SP16, an audio block addresslinked to the text block address confirmed in step SP15 is calculated.The calculation of the audio block address linked to the text blockaddress is performed based on the address link information stored in theaddress link table 65. Then in step SP17 of an auxiliary displayprocessing step, the display sections 4 a and 4 b are switched off whilethe sub display section 17 is switched on. In this instance, the titleof the contents currently selected or the like is displayed on the subdisplay section 17. Further, the CPU 41 controls to stop supply of powerfrom the power control 56 to the display sections 4 a and 4 b, whichcorresponds to the liquid crystal display element 45 shown in FIG. 8,and a liquid crystal drive 44 so as to suppress power consumption.

In step SP18, a read flag indicative of a reading aloud play state or apause state stored in the nonvolatile memory 50 is set to a pause state.In next step SP19 of an output processing step, it is discriminatedwhether or not the start-stop button 10 c of FIG. 6 is depressed. If itis discriminated that the start-stop button 10 c is depressed, then itis discriminated in step SP20 whether or not the reading aloud stateflag at the point of time is the pause state. If it is discriminated instep SP20 that the reading aloud state flag at the point of time is thepause state, then the processing advances to step SP21, in which audioblock data whose audio block address has been determined and which is anobject of reading are loaded from the contents storage 55 and the audioblock address is updated so as to indicate the address of audio blockdata to be read subsequently. In next step SP22, reading aloud of theaudio block data read out in step SP21 is started, and in step SP23, thereading aloud state flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 50 is set tothe play state. On the other hand, if it is discriminated in step SP20that the reading aloud state flag is the play state when the startinginstruction operation element 10 c is depressed, then the processingadvances to step SP24, in which the reading aloud is stopped. Each timethe starting instruction operation element 10 c is depressed, thereading aloud state flag changes over alternately between the play stateand the pause state. If a terminal of a headphone is inserted into theheadphone output terminal 18 while audio block data are played back, theuser can listen to the read contents through the headphone. If it isdiscriminated in step SP19 that the starting instruction operationelement 10 c is not depressed, then various settings are performed instep SP36, whereafter the processing returns to step SP19 so that theprocessing described above is repeated.

If it is detected in step SP26 that the information processing apparatus1 is opened, then the audio block address corresponding to the audioblock data played back immediately before the information processingapparatus 1 is opened is determined in step SP27, and the text blockaddress indicative of the recorded location of the text block datalinked to the determined audio block address is calculated. Thecalculation of the address is performed by reference to the address linktable 65 described hereinabove. Thereafter, the processing returns tostep SP8, in which the text block data are loaded based on thecalculated text block address. Then in step SP9, contents of the textare displayed on the display sections 4 a and 4 b again and the modechanges over from the reading aloud mode to the display mode.

On the other hand, before the power switch 15 is off by depressing it,if it is discriminated in step SP2 of the detection processing step inFIG. 9 that the information processing apparatus 1 is in the closedstate, then the processing advances to step SP29. In step SP29 of thestarting instruction processing step, it is discriminated whether or notthe reading aloud mode is on. In this instance, the reading aloud modecan be discriminated depending upon whether or not the output switch 19of FIG. 6 is depressed. If it is discriminated in step S29 that thereading aloud mode is not on, then the processing advances to a routineRT3, in which an ending processing is performed. If it is discriminatedin step S29 that the reading aloud mode is on as a result depression ofthe output switch 19, then the processing advances to step SP30. In stepSP30 of an auxiliary display processing step, an initial screen isdisplayed on the sub display section 17. Then, after selection of a bookis performed in step Sp31, it is discriminated in step SP32 from on/offof the resume flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 50 whether or not apage read in the last reading is recorded. If the resume flag is on andaccordingly resume playback is set, then the processing advances to stepSP34, in which an audio block address indicating audio block data storedin the nonvolatile memory 50 with which resume playback is to be startedis read out. On the other hand, if it is discriminated in step SP32 thatthe resume flag is off, i.e. resume playback is not set, then the audioblock address indicative of the position at which audio block data ofthe block as the selected contents is loaded in step SP33. After theaudio block address is loaded in step SP33 or SP34, the processingadvances to step SP18 described hereinabove. It is to be noted that, instep SP34, the audio block address with which resume playback is to bestarted may not be loaded directly from the nonvolatile memory 50, butotherwise the text data address with which resume playback is to bestarted may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 50 and the audio blockaddress may be calculated based on the read out data address withreference to the address link table 65.

If it is detected in step SP35 that the power switch 15 is off while theinformation processing apparatus 1 is in the reading aloud mode and in aclosed state, then the processing advances to step SP11 for a powersupply switching off process of the information processing apparatus 1.If an off-state of the power switch 15 is not detected in step SP35,then the processing advances to step SP36 for various settings. Then,after such various settings are performed in step SP36, the processingreturns to step SP19. If the power switch 15 is switched off in stepSP35, it is discriminated in step SP11 whether or not the resume flag ison. The resume flag is stored in the nonvolatile memory 50. If theresume flag is on and consequently playback is to be resumed then, thenthe playback is started from a position next to the text block data orthe audio block data which has been played back immediately before thepower supply switching off process by the power switch 15 is performed.If the resume playback is set in step SP11, then the text block addresswhich is an address of the text block data which is required uponresumption of playback is recorded into the nonvolatile memory 50 as theresume RAM in step SP13 of a storage processing step. Thereafter, theprocessing advances to step RT2 so that a power supply switching offprocess may be executed. On the other hand, if the resume playback isnot set in step SP11, then the processing advances to step RT2 so thatthe power supply switching off process is executed.

It is to be noted that, if the text block loaded in step SP13 of thestorage processing step is an intermediate block of the contents, thenthe text block data currently loaded may be recorded into thenonvolatile memory 50. This makes it possible, for example, when thestartup time of the contents storage 55 is long, to read out and displaythe text block data stored in the nonvolatile memory 50 in advance andmake use of the time within which the user reads as a time within whichthe contents storage 55 is to be started up. On the other hand, if thetext block loaded in step SP13 is the last block of the contents, thensince storage of the text data into the nonvolatile memory 50 is notnecessary, such storage process is omitted.

The contents playback properties stored in such a file attribute storagearea 61 which can be provided for each of contents as described abovesometimes has speaker playback inhibition information SP set therein.

Where the speaker playback inhibition information SP is set, even if theinformation processing apparatus 1 is set to the reading aloud mode,outputting of played back audio data from the speaker 53 mounted on theinformation processing apparatus 1 is disabled. More specifically, ifstep SP40 is provided next to step SP21 in FIG. 10, then it isdiscriminated in step SP40 whether or not the speaker playbackinhibition information SP of the contents playback properties of thefile attribute storage area 61 is set. If the discrimination revealsthat playback by speaker outputting is not inhibited, then theprocessing advances to step SP22, in which reading aloud is started toperform audio data playback.

If it is discriminated in step SP40 that playback by a speaker isinhibited, then the processing advances to step SP24, in which thereading aloud routine is ended.

Consequently, played back audio data of contents are prevented frombeing heard, for example, by a person around the user. In this manner,the secrecy is improved.

On the other hand, where the headphone detection section 52 can detectwhether or not a headphone is connected to the information processingapparatus 1, step SP41 may be processed subsequently to step SP21. If itis detected in step SP41 that a headphone is connected to the headphoneoutput terminal 18, then the processing advances to step SP22, in whichreading aloud is started. On the other hand, if it is discriminated instep SP41 by the headphone detection section 52 that a headphone is notconnected to the headphone output terminal 18, then the processingadvances to step SP24, in which a reading aloud ending process isperformed. Where step SP41 described above is provided, if theinformation processing apparatus 1 does not otherwise include thespeaker 53, then if reading aloud is started while no headphone isconnected to the information processing apparatus 1 because of anerroneous operation of the user or the like, then the playback positionof text data advances while the user does not recognize it andunnecessary power is consumed, which may result in consumption of thebattery while the user does not recognize it. This disadvantage can beprevented by preventing reading aloud from being started unless aheadphone is connected to the headphone output terminal 18 of theinformation processing apparatus 1 by the user as described above.

Further, the information processing apparatus 1 may operate such thatstep SP40 is processed subsequently to step SP21 and, when outputting ofplayed back audio data from a speaker is inhibited in step SP40, aconnection state of a headphone is discriminated in step SP41 and it isdetermined based on a result of the discrimination in step SP41 whetherthe processing should advance to step SP22 or step SP24. In thisinstance, it is detected in step SP40 that speaker outputting isinhibited, and if it is discriminated in step SP41 that a headphone isnot connected to the information processing apparatus 1, then theprocessing advances to step SP24, in which a reading aloud endingprocess can be performed. In this instance, if it is discriminated instep SP41 conversely that a headphone is connected, then even ifplayback outputting from a speaker is inhibited, the user can hearplayed back audio data from the headphone conveniently.

Further, when the processing advances to step SP24 as a result of thediscrimination in step SP40 or step SP41, the processing furtheradvances through step SP25 to step SP26, in which it is discriminatedwhether or not the information processing apparatus 1 is opened, andthen-to step SP35, in which it is discriminated whether or not the powerkey is operated. However, the operations in steps SP26 and SP35 may bereplaced by the following operation. In particular, after the readingaloud state flag is set to the pause state in step SP25, the powercontrol 56 is controlled so that the power supply to the informationprocessing apparatus 1 may be switched off. By the control, unnecessarypower consumption of the internal battery 58 can be suppressed, which ispreferable to the portable apparatus.

Connection of the information processing apparatus 1 to a personalcomputer or the like to download and write contents into the contentsstorage 55 or to charge the information processing apparatus 1 isperformed in such a manner as seen in FIG. 14. Referring to FIG. 14, acradle 16 is connected to the personal computer or some other powersupply, and the information processing apparatus 1 is loaded into thecradle 16. In this instance, the connection terminal 13 of theinformation processing apparatus 1 is connected to the cradle 16.

Now, a second embodiment of the present invention wherein theinformation processing apparatus of the present invention is applied asa portable telephone set with a camera is described.

FIG. 15 shows the information processing apparatus of the presentembodiment. Referring to FIG. 15, a body 22 is mounted for pivotalmotion on another body 21 by means of a hinge 23. A display section 24formed from a liquid crystal display unit is provided on the body 22 andcan display a radio wave reception condition, a remaining amount of thebattery, a registered telephone number, incoming and outgoing callhistories, contents of an electronic mail, a simple homepage, aphotograph or the like.

Operation keys 25 such as numeral keys from “0” to “9”, a callorigination key, a redial key, a clearing and power supply key, a clearkey and an electronic mail key are provided on the body 21. Further, amemo button 26 for recording voice of the other party during talking anda microphone 27 for collecting voice of the user are provided on thebody 21. A jog dial 28 for performing a scrolling operation of atelephone number list or an electronic mail displayed on the displaysection 24, a page turning operation of a simple homepage, an imagefeeding operation and other necessary operation is provided on the body21 such that it projects a little from the surface of the body 21.

A camera section 29 is provided at an upper portion of the body 22. Thecamera section 29 is mounted for pivotal motion over a range ofapproximately 180 degrees. A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera 30 isprovided on the camera section 29, and if the camera section 29 ispivoted by 180 degrees, then a speaker 31 provided on the rear face sideof the camera section 29 is directed forwardly as seen in FIG. 16 suchthat the user can talk to the speaker 31 thereby using the informationprocessing apparatus as a portable telephone set. An antenna 36 ismounted on the body 22.

Now, correspondence of the information processing apparatus of thesecond embodiment to that of the first embodiment is described. Thedisplay section 24 corresponds to the display sections 4 a and 4 b ofthe first embodiment, and a sub display unit not shown provided on therear face side of the body 22 corresponds to the sub display section 17.A power switch 32 corresponds to the power switch 15; a function switch33 to the function switch 14; and the jog dial 28 to the feed switch 6.The jog dial 28 has a configuration same as that of the operation dial11 shown in FIG. 7. An SM slot 34 and a memory stick 35 correspond tothe removable memory interface 12 and the memory stick, respectively,and a connection terminal and a headphone terminal not shown correspondto the connection terminal 13 and the headphone terminal 18,respectively.

Operation for displaying and reading aloud contents of a book is similarto that in the first embodiment. Therefore overlapping description of itis omitted herein to avoid redundancy.

It is to be noted that, while, in the first and second embodimentsdescribed above, a hinge need not necessarily be used as pivotalsupporting means between two housings, various other elements may beused. Further, in the first embodiment, the auxiliary display sectionmay be provided not on the body 2 b but otherwise on an outer face ofthe body 2 a.

Furthermore, while, in the first embodiment, the display sections 4 aand 4 b are provided in a spread fashion on the bodies 2 a and 2 b,respectively, where there is no problem even if only one display sectionis provided, the other display section may be formed otherwise as aprotective cover for the display section, and reading aloud may beperformed in response to opening or closing of the protective cover.

In addition, while, in the embodiments described above, audio block dataprepared separately from text data are used as the data to be used forreading aloud of contents, a text to speech block may be providedadditionally to successively produce audio data for reading aloud fromtext data.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedusing specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposesonly, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a portable housinghaving a display section provided thereon; a lid mounted for opening andclosing motion on said housing for covering said display section;opening/closing detection means for detecting whether said lid is openedor closed with respect to said housing; display control means fordisplaying text data on said display section; audio reproducing meansfor reproducing audio data relating to said text data; memory means forstoring a memory location of said text data being displayed immediatelybefore a closing of said lid is detected by said opening/closingdetecting means; control means for controlling said audio reproducingmeans so as to reproduce the audio data relating to said memory locationof said text data stored by said memory means upon detecting that saidlid has been closed, and a communication section for receiving contentsdata downloaded from an external apparatus for storage in a contentsstorage unit for later reproduction and display.